Clasp.



PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904.

J. J EN KINS.

CLASP.

APPLICATION nun r1212. 11. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

x9 v k Inventor.

Witnesses.-

laqf UNITED STATES Patented June 21, 1 904.

JOEL JENKINS, OF MONTCLAIR, NElV JERSEY.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,343, dated June 21, 1904.

Application filed February 17, 1904; Serial No. 194,008. (No model.)

To (all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOEL JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to clasps such as are used to fasten together parts of garments, attach cufls, &c., where it is desirable that the fastening be easily and quickly effected. In these clasps the character of the fastening has not been all that can be desired, as in many of them notwithstanding the provision of teeth to engage the attached parts the latter are sometimes wrenched out from the clasping-jaws.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide additional fastening means in order to prevent any liability of their being pulled from between the jaws of the clasp.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the clasp, particularly with reference to securing the clamping jaw or spring and the clamping-lever to the frame of the clasp.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top View of the improved clasp. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same with the jaw closed. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the jaw open.

Fig. 4 is a front end view. Fig. 5 is a view in section on the plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 with the jaw closed. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the jaw open. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the grip or clamping-jaw, and Fig. 8 is a detail view of the clamping-lever. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken upon the plane indicated by the line 9 9 in Fig. 3.

The frame or body a of the clasp is U- shaped, as usual, and said frame has its edges I) turned over, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. lVithin the frame is a clamping-jaw c, which in the present case is shown as a flat U- shaped spring, one end (Z of which is held in the frame by the turned-over edges and pro jections or teeth a formed upon one side of the frame near the end, while the other or clamping end of the spring (marked 0) forms the jaw for clamping together the parts to be attached. In the unclamped position of the jaw the spring is bounded in the frame by the turned-over edges and is therefore securely held within the frame, the projections e, as will be clear, preventing it from slipping out from the end of the frame. The edges upon the lower side of the frame may be brought over the end (Z of the spring, although this is not a necessity, as the spring does not have to be bound to the frame. When the clamping-jaw is brought down to its clamping position, Fig. 5, the turned-over edges of the frame will inclose one side of the spring and a portion thereof at the bend.

The upper side of the spring 0, which forms the clamping-jaw, has cut therein a tongue f, which is independently movable and which has a downwardly-projecting end preferably sharpened, so as to form a tooth for engaging the attached parts. The operating or clamping lever it, which works in an opening in the upper side of the frame, has integral therewith pivot-pins 2', which are journaled between the frame and the turned-over edge, the frame being suitably stamped to receive said pivot-pins, as shown in Fig. 1. This lever is substantially L-shaped, and the shorter end thereof when the clasp is in its unclamping position, as shown in Fig. 6, rests between the spring and the upper side of the frame. This shorter end has a projection 76 at the eX- tremity thereof, which as the lever is moved to bring the jaws 0 into the clamping position moves along toward the free end of the tongue, which is slightly elevated to bring it above the jaw and gradually forces said tongue down uponthe attached piece. When the jaw has reached the full clamping position, the tongue is depressed by the projection k, Figs. 4: and 5, so that the downwardly-projecting end of the tongue comes substantially between the projections or teeth 6, upon the lower end of the frame, and the attached parts beneath the clampingjaw are firmly held by the three teeth, which are buried therein.

It will be seen that the present construction besides furnishing an additional grip upon the fabric held in the jaws of the clasp forms a simple and convenient way of manufacturing and. assembling the clasps. The spring 0, which is stamped out of sheet metal, is merely required to be slipped into the frame, which is also stamped out of sheet metal, where it is securely held without the provision of extra parts for securing it to the frame. The projections a, it will be observed, serve not only to hold the spring from slipping out at the end of the clasp, but also serve as teeth to engage the fabric between the jaws of the clasp.

I claim as my invention 1. In a clasp, the combination of a U-shaped frame, a clamping-jaw,an independently-movable tongue carried by said jaw, and a clamping-lever to operate the tongue and jaw.

2. In a clasp, the combination of a U-shaped frame, a clampingjaw,an independently-movable tongue formed in said jaw and having a downwardly-projeeting end, and a clampinglever to operate the tongue and jaw.

3. In a clasp, the combination of a U-shaped frame, projections on one side of the frame, a clamping-jaw, an independently-movable tongue formed in said jaw and having a downwardly-projecting end adapted to be brought substantially between said projections, and a clamping-lever to operate the tongue and jaw.

4. In a clasp, the combination of a U-shaped frame, a spring within said frame one end of which forms a jaw, an independently-movable tongue formed in said jaw, and a clampinglever to operate the tongue and jaw.

5. In a clasp, the combination of a U-shaped frame, a U-shaped spring within said frame, one end of which is held in the frame and the other end of which forms a jaw, an independently-movable tongue formed in the jaw, and a clamping-lever to operate the tongue and jaw.

6. In a clasp, the combination of a U-shaped frame having turned-over edges, projections upon one side and at the open end of the frame, a spring within said frame one end of which forms a jaw and the other end of which is held in the frame by the turned-over edges and projections, and a clamping-lever to operate the jaw.

7. In a clasp, the combination of a U-shaped frame having turned-over edges, teeth upon one side of the frame adapted to engage the material within the clasp, a spring within said frame, one end of which forms a jaw and the other end of which is held in the frame by the teeth, and a clamping-lever to operate the jaw. This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of February, A. I). 1904.

JOEL JENKINS.

In presence of T. H. SMITH, O. B. RoBmsoN. 

